AIBU to not pay this fee?

So DH (dear husband) and I are purchasing a house, hoping to complete next month. Our rental tenancy ended on Sep 1st and we asked for a rolling contract which has been granted (though they are still trying to up the rent?) as we want to be able to move when completion is likely to happen so don't want to be tied in. We won't have a new contract for this, our tenancy is based on our old contract but just rolls on month to month under the same terms and conditions (much like when a mobile phone contract ends).

Agents have now sent me an admin fee of £66. AIBU to think this is ludicrous? They have literally taken one phone call from me, made one to the landlord, called me back and written me a letter - I don't see how this fee is justified! They must have completed everything within 30 minutes. I don't stand much of a chance in not paying it as I can see it in the small print on our original contract, but I'm so peeved as they just don't deserve the money 😡. For what it's worth, my landlady is lovely and I have no issue with her at all.

WIBU to refuse the rent increase (as the rolling should be under same terms and conditions) kick up a fuss about the fee and write to the property ombudsman if they refuse to reduce their fee? They have also lied to me saying that the landlady was irate about me requesting a rolling contract (she was angry with them and their lack of info, not my request) and they have told me that they will not accept my notice until i have exchanged which I can understand as their recommendation, but to forbid me I believe is not their legal right.

Comments (14)

Hmmmmmmm understand your frustration with the agency and the fee but don't really think you have a leg to stand on, as it's in your contract.

As to your landlady, personally (speaking as a landlady) I think she is being really generous allowing you a rolling contract. It gets harder to find tenants in the winter months (much easier spring, summer and early autumn), so she is certainly helping you out, most probably to her own detriment. I get anxious about finding tenants - obviously you don't want to have to take a tenant because there is no one else. Much better to find someone who you feel will be responsible and look after the house. So personally I feel that you should suck the costs up, accept them as part of moving and be grateful that your landlady is being so flexible

£66 probably does work out to about half an hour of their time (they're not a charity presumably ) and as you've got an outcome that favours you and they're entitled to charge it contractually I don't really see you can refuse it. Sorry x

Yabu. It's part of your contract so you should just pay as you did sign the contract, if you weren't happy you shouldn't have signed. With regards to the rent increase I believe they can change it however they like as your original contract has come to an end so they can apply new terms under the new rolling contract.

I'm unsure where you stand on submitting your notice but why don't you submit it and then if they refuse request this in writing and speak to a soliciter to see where you stand.

They can increase the rent because your contract will have start and end dates which have now ended so the period of paying x amount is over and they can increase the rent.

How much has it increases by? It sounds like you will be moving out soon anyway so you'd only be paying the increased rate for a few months. I don't think it's worth the aggro of questionning it as, legally, they can do this.

Their response will.probably be along the lines of "if you don't want to pay rhe increased rent, you can find alternative accommodation".

Thanks for the replies. They can't just up the rent, for this I would need a new contract. If I choose not to sign a new contract my old contract remains in force with the exact same terms and conditions with the exception of dates which run month to month. Part of housing act 1988

For a periodic tenancy (rolling on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis) your landlord can’t normally increase the rent more than once a year without your agreement. This is from the gov.co.uk website

But I totally get it and agree with you.
Agency fees are disgusting. And they're becoming illegal - don't know if the change in tenancy like this is included when they ban them. But for now they have every right unfortunately.

£66 is cheap. One of our old ones that we NEARLY went with would've charged £180 when the initial 6 months was up for a £500 flat. Disgusting. But it's just unfortunately the way of the game at the moment. Luckily we didn't go with them lol.

YABU. I don't think its right but I don't think there is anything you can do. Id also be surprised if it dosnt say about rent increase after x amount of months somewhere. For the sake of an easy life and moving on id just deal with it and then forget about it.

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